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POETICAL  LESSONS 

FOR 

CHILDREN, 

BY  PHILIP  DODDRIBLGE,  D.  D 

SECOND  EDITION. 


1825. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  ^rchive 
in  2012  with  funding 
University  of  North  Carolina  at  Chapel  Hill 


http://www.archive.org/details/poeticallessonsfOOdodd 


POETICAL  LESSONS 


FOR 

CHILDREN. 


1.   Of  our  own  nature  and  its  chief  Glory  and 
Happiness. 

NOW  for  awhile  aside  I'll  lay 
JThe  cares  and  trifles  of  the  day  ; 
And  call  my  thoughts,  which  rove  abroad, 
To  view  myself,  and  view  my  God ; 
I'll  look  within  that  I  may  see, 
What  I  now  am,  what  I  must  be. 

I  am  the  creature  of  the  Lord  : 
He  made  me  by  his  powerful  word  ; 
This  body,  in  each  curious  part, 
Was  wrought  by  his  unfailing  art ; 
From  him  my  nobler  spirit  came, 
My  soul,  a  spark  of  heavenly  flame : 
A3 


That  soul  by  which  my  body  lives, 
Which  thinks,  and  hopes,  and  joys,  and 

grieves ; 
And  must  in  Heaven  or  Hell  remain, 
When  flesh  is  turn'd  to  dust  again. 

What  business,  then,  should  I  attend, 
Or  what  esteem  my  noblest  end  ? 
Sure  it  consists  in  "this  alone, 
That  God  my  maker  may  be  known  : 
So  known,  that  I  may  love  him  still, 
And  form  my  actions  by  his  will ; 
That  he  may  bless  me  while  1  live  ! 
And  when  I  die  my  soul  receive. 
To  dwell  lor  ever  in  his  sight, 
In  perfect  knowledge  and  delight. 


II.  The   knowledge  of  Gon,  and  our  duty   to 
be  learnt  from  the  Bible. 

HOW  shall  a  young  immortal  learn, 
This  great,  this  infinite  concern, 
What"  my  Almighty  Maker  is, 
And  what  the  way  this  God  to  please  ? 

Shall  some  bright  angel  spread  his  wing, 
The  welcome  message  down  to  bring  ? 
Or  must  we  dig  beneath  the  ground, 
Deep  as  where  silver  mines  are  found  ? 

I  bless  his  name  for  what  I  hear  ; 
The  word  of  life  and  truth  is  near ; 
His  gospel  sounds  through  all  our  land  ; 
The  Bible  meets  my  out-stretch'd  hand : 
A  4 


8 

That  sacred  book,  inspir'd  by  God, 

In  our  own  tongue  is  spread  abroad; 

That  blessed  book  we  all  may  read, 

And  learn  the  knowledge  which  we  need  ; 

I'll  place  it  si i  11  before  my  exes, 

For  there  my  hope,  my  treasure  lies. 

III.   Of  the  Nature  and  Attributes  of  the  blessed 
Gob. 

GOD  is  a  Spirit  none  can  see  : 
He  ever  was,  is,  and  shall  be  ; 
Present  where'er  his  creatures  dwell, 
Through  earth  and  sea,  through  heaven  and 
hell. 

Hts  eye,  with  infinite  survey, 
Views  all  their  realms  in  full  display  ; 
"What  has  been,  is,  or  shall  be   lone, 
Or  here  or  there,  to  him  is  known  ; 
Nor  can  one  thought  arise  unseen, 
In  mind  of  angels  or  of  men  ; 
Yet  far  above  all  anxious  cares, 
Calmly  he  rules  his  grand  affairs  ; 
"While  wisdom  infinite  attains 
The  noblest  ends  by  surest  means. 

Majestic  from  his  lofty  throne, 
He  speaks,  and  all  his  will  is  done  ; 
Nor  can  united  worlds  withstand 
The  force  of  his  almighty  hand  ; 


Yet  ever  righteous  are  his  ways, 
Faithful  and  true  whate'erhe  says  : 
The  holy,  holy,  holy  Lord, 
By  all  the  angelic  hosts  ador'd. 

The  bounty  of  his  gracious  hand 
Is  scatter'd  over  every  land ; 
While  he  on  high,  completely  bless'd, 
With  pity  looks  on  the  distress'd; 
And  by  his  Son,  our  Saviour  dear, 
To  sinners  brings  salvation  near. 

All  that  is  glorious,  good  and  great, 
Does  in  the  Lord  Jehovah  meet ; 
Then  to  his  name  be  glory  given 
By  all  on  earth,  and  all  in  heaven. 

IV.    Of  God's  Relations  to  us. 

THE  Lord  my  Maker  I  adore, 
Created  by  his  love  and  power  : 
He  fashion'd,  in  their  various  forms, 
Angels  and  men,  and  beasts  and  worms 
And  all  their  well-ranged  orders  stand, 
Supported  by  his  powerful  hand. 

Father  of  light,  amidst  the  skies 
He  bids  the  golden  sun  arise  ; 
He  scatters  the  refreshing  rain, 
To  cheer  the  grr.ss  and  swell  the  grain  ; 
And  every  day  presents  the  food 
That  satisfies  my  mouth  with  good. 


10 

At  home,  abroad,  by  night,  by  day, 
lie  is  my  guardian  and  my  Stay  ; 
And  sure  'tis  fit  my  soul  should  know. 
He  is  my  Lord  and  Sovereign  too. 

O  may  that  voice,  that  speaks  his  law, 
My  heart  to  sweet  obedience  draw  ; 
That  when  1  see  the  Judge  descend, 
J,  in  that  Judge,  may  see  my  Friend  ! 

V.  The  sum  of  our  duty  to  Gon  and  ^lan. 

THE  knowledge  which  my  heart  desires, 
Is  but  to  learn  what  God  requires  : 
Speak  then  the  word,  my  Father  dear, 
For  all  my  soul's  awake  "to  hear  : 
And  O,  what  joy  my  breast  must  move, 
To  hear  that  ail  thy  law  is  love  ! 

This  is  the  sum  of  every  part, 
To  love  the  Lord  with  all  my  heart, 
With  all  my  soul,  with  all  my  might, 
And  in  his  service  to  delight  : 
That  1  should  love  my  neighbour  too, 
And  what  I  wish  from  Uiem  should  do. 

How  short  and  sweet,  how  good  and  plain 
Easy  to  le.irn  and  to  retain  ! 
O  may  thy  grace  my  soul  renew  ; 
And  'twill  be  sweet  to  practice  too. 


II 

VI.  -Sow  our  love  to  God  is  to  be  expressed. 

SINCE  love  is  as  my  duty  known, 
How  must  this  love  to  God  be  shown  ? 
Sure  1  the  highest  thoughts  should  raise, 
Of  him,  who  is  above  all  praise  ; 
His  favour  most  of  all  desire, 
And  still  to  please  him  should  aspire, 
To  him  be  constant  worship  paid, 
And  all  his  sacred  laws  obeyed  ! 
if  to  afflict  me  be  his  will, 
I'll  bear  it  with  submission  still, 
A  tender  father  sure  he  proves, 
And  but  corrects,  because  he  loves. 

His  word  with  diligence  I'll  hear  ; 
To  him  present  my  daily  prayer ; 
And  while  new  mercies  1  implore, 
For  blessings  past  I  will  adore  : 
And  every  action  shall  express 
A  heart  full-charged  with  thankfulness. 

VII.  How   Love  to   our  Neighbour   should  be 
expressed. 

I  BY  my  love  to  men  must  prove, 
How  cordially  my  God  I  love ; 
To  those  whom  he  hath  cloth'd  with  power 
1  would  be  subject  every  hour ; 
To  parents,  and  to  rulers  too, 
Pay  honour  and  obedience  due ; 


12 

In  every  word  I'll  truth  maintain, 
In  every  act  shall  justice  reign. 

In  all  my  feeble  hands  can  do, 
Tue  good  of*  all  I  would  pursue  ; 
And  where  my  powers  of  action  fail, 
Kind  wishes  in  mv  heart  prevail 
For  every  man,  whoe'er  he  be, 
Stranger,  or  friend,  or  enemy. 

Since  by  God's  pardoning  grace  I  live, 
Well  may  I  ail  my  foes  forgive  : 
And,  as  Ciirist's  word  and  pattern  show'd, 
Conquer  their  evil  by  my  good. 

VIII.  Sin  to  be  avoided  in  Thought,  Word,  and 
Action. 

GUARD  me,  O  God,  from  every  sin, 
Let  heart  and  tongue,  and  life  be  clean  ! 
Though  with  ten  thousand  snares  beset, 
I  never  would  my  Lord  forget. 

Fain  would  I  learn  to  lay  aside 
Malice,  and  stubbornness,  and  pride, 
Envy,  and  every  evil  thought ; 
Nor  be  my  breast  with  anger  hot : 
Each  other  passion  wild  and  rude, 
I  long  to  feel  by  grace  subdu'd. 

When  thus  my  heart  is  well  prepar'd, 
My  tougue  I  easily  shall  guard 


13 

From  every  oath  and  curse  profane, 

Nor  take  God's  reverend  name  in  vain. 

No  sacred  thing  shall  I  deride, 

Nor  scoff,  nor  rail,  nor  brawl,  nor  chide, 

My  soul  will  every  lie  detest, 

And  every  base,  indecent  jest. 

This  humble,  watchful  soul  of  mine, 
Shall  with  abhorrence  then  decline 
The  drunkard's  cup,  the  glutton's  feast, 
That  sink  the  man  below  the  beast ; 
Th'  injurious  blow,  the  wanton  eye  ; 
The  loss  of  hours  that  quickly  fly  ; 
And  that  which  leads  to  every  crime, 
The  vain  misuse  of  sacred  time; 
"What  brings  dishonour  on  God's  law, 
Or  what  on  man  would  mischief  draw. 


IX.  The  Corruption  of  Nature  and  Sins  of 
Life  acknowledged. 

LORD,  when  my  wretched  soul  surveys 
The  various  follies  of  my  ways, 
The  guilt  of  every  word  and  thought, 
Every  neglect  and  every  fault : 
"Well  may  1  tremble  to  appear, 
Laden  with  horror,  shame,  and  fear. 

Adam,  our  head,  has  brought  disgrace, 
And  sin,  and  death,  on  all  his  race  ! 


14 

From  him  my  rtiin'd  nature  came, 
Heir  to  his  sorrow  and  his  shame  : 
My  body  weak,  and  dark  my  mind, 
To  good  averse,  to  sin  inclin'd  ; 
And  oh  !  too  soon  the  deadly  fruit 
Kipen'd  from  that  unhappy  root. 

Duty  requir'd  my  early  care 
Each  vain  indulgence  to  forbear ; 
Kequir'd  me,  all  the  good  I  knew 
With  constant  vigour  to  pursue  ; 
But  my  vain  heart,  and  stubborn  will, 
In  its  own  ways  would  wander  still ; 
Like  a  wild  ass's  colt  would  go 
Through  all  this  wilderness  of  wo  ; 
Vainly  I  seek  lo  plead  a  word, 
Silent  in  guilt  before  the  Lord. 

X.   Of  the  Misery  -which  Sin  has  brought  upon 

IIS. 

WHO  can  abide  God's  wrath,  or  stand 
Before  the  terrors  of  his  hand  ? 
Jehovah's  curse  what  heart  shall  dare 
if  meet,  or  who  be  strong  lo  bear  ? 

He  every  good  can  take  away, 
And  every  evil  on  us  lay ; 
Can  by  a  single  word  bring  down 
The  tallest  head  that  wears  a  crown, 


15 

The  statesman  wise,  the  warrior  brave, 
To  moulder  in  the  silent  grave  ; 
And  send  the  wretched  soul  to  hell, 
To  the  fierce  flames  where  devils  dwell, 
For  endless  years  to  languish  there, 
In  pangs  of  infinite  despair. 

1  then,  poor  feeble  worm  !  how  soon 
Must  I  dissolve  before  his  frown  ! 
And  yet  his  frowns  and  vengeance  too, 
I,  by  my  sins,  have  made  my  due. 

Is  there  no  hope  P  And  must  I  die  ? 
Is  there  no  friend  or  helper  nigh  ? 
Is  it  beyond  repeal  decreed, 
That  every  soul  that  sins  must  bleed  ? 
O  let  my  listening,  longing  ear, 
Some  sound  of  grace  and  pardon  hear  ! 
My  soul  would  the  first  news  embrace, 
And  turn  its  trembling  into  praise. 

XI.   Of  the  Gospel,  or  the  good  news  of  Salva- 
tion by  Christ. 

WHAT  joyful  tidings  do  I  hear  !  — 

'Tis  gospel  grace  salutes  my  ear ; 
And  by  that  gracious  sound  1  find, 
This  righteous  God  is  also  kind. 

Jesus,  his  only  Son  displays 


16 

The  great  salvation  long  foretold 

By  prophets  to  the  Jews  of  old, 

Is  now  in  plainer  words  made  known, 

As  by  the  apostles  clearly  shown. 

By  this  bless'd  message  brought  from  heaven, 

Pardon,  and  peace,  and  grace,  are  given. 

O  may  1  know  that  Saviour  here, 
Who  intercedes  for  sinners  there  ; 
And  that  eternal  life  receive, 
Which  he  was  sent  of  God  to  give  ! 

XII.   Who  Christ  is,  and  how  he  lived  on. 
Earth. 

JESUS !   how  bright  his  glories  shine  ! 
The  great  IMMANUEL  is  divine  \ 
One  with  the  Father  he  appears, 
And  all  his  Father's  honours  shares  ; 
Yet  he,  to  bring  salvation  down, 
Has  put  our  mortal  nature  on. 

He  in  an  humble  virgin's  womb, 
A  feeble  infant  did  become ; 
A  stable  was  his  lodging  made, 
And  the  rude  manger  was  his  bed, 
Growing  in  life,  he  still  was  seen 
Humble,  laborious,  poor  and  mean  ; 
The  Son  of  God  from  year  to  year, 
Did  as  a  carpenter  appear. 

At  length  when  he  to  preach  was  sent, 
Through  towns  and  villages  he  went, 


If 

And  travell'd  with  unwearied  zeal 
God's  will  and  nature  to  reveal. 
To  prove  the  heavenly  truths  he  taught, 
Unnumbered  miracles  were  wrought : 
The  blind  beheld  him,  and  the  ear 
}  Which  had  been  deaf,  his  voice  could  hear 
Sickness  obey'd  his  healing  hand, 
And  devils  fled  at  his  command ; 
The  lame  for  joy  around  him  leap  ; 
The  dead  he  wakens  from  their  sleep. 

Through  all  his  life  his  doctrine  shines, 
Drawn  in  the  plainest,  fairest  lines ; 
And  death  at  length  did  he  sustain, 
Our  pardon  and  our  peace  to  gain  ; 
That  sinners  who  condemned  stood, 
Might  find  salvation  in  his  blood. 
All  honour  then  ascribed  be, 
To  him  who  lived  and  died  for  me  ! 


III.   Of  Christ's  Death,   Resurrection    and 
Ascension. 


f 

JESUS,  the  righteous,  lo  !  he  dies, 
For  sin,  a  spotless  sacrifice  ! 
Justice  has  on  his  sacred  head 
The  weight  of  our  transgressions  laid. 
If  God's  own  Son  would  sinners  save, 
He  must  be  humbled  to  the  grave; 
That  so  a  pardoning  God  might  show, 
What  vengeance  to  our  crimes  were  due, 
B 


18 

Nailed  to  the  cross  with  torturing  smart, 
What  anguish  rack'd  his  tender  heart ! 
Alas  !  how  bitterly  he  cried  ! 
Tasted  the  vinegar  and  died! 
Cold  in  the  tomb,  that  mournful  day, 
My  Saviour's  mangled  body  lay  ; 
"Well  may  I  blush,  and  weep  to  see, 
What  Jesus  bore,  for  love  to  me. 

But,  O  my  soul,  thy  grief  restrain, 
Jesus,  the  Saviour  lives  again ! 
On  the  third  day  the  Conqueror  rose, 
And  greatly  triumphed  o'er  his  foes ; 
Prov'd  his  recover'd  life,  and  then 
Ascended  to  his  heaven  again. 
Exalted  on  a  shining  throne, 
At  God's  right  hand  he  is  set  down, 
To  plead  the  merits  of  his  blood ; 
And  rule  for  all  his  people's  good  : 
Wide  o'er  all  worlds  his  power  extend^ 
And  well  can  he  protect  his  friends  : 
May  I  in  that  blest  band  appear, 
Secure  from  danger  and  from  fear ! 


19 

XIV-   Of  the  Nature  of  Faith  and  Repentance. 

THEY  must  repent,  and  must  believe, 
Who  Christ's  salvation  would  receive ; 

0  may  the  Spirit  faith  impart, 
And  work  repentance  in  my  heart ! 

Bless'd  Jesus,  who  can  be  so  base 
As  to  suspect  thy  power  or  grace  ! 
Or  who  can  e'er  so  stupid  be, 
To  slight  thy  blessings,  Lord,  and  thee  ! 
With  humble,  reverend  hope  and  love?   , 

1  to  thy  gracious  feet  would  move, 
And  to  thy  care  my  all  resign, 
Resolv'd  to  be  for  ever  thine ; 
Secure,  if  thou  vouchsafe  to  keep 
My  feeble  soul  among  thy  sheep. 

The  sins  and  follies  I  have  done, 
Humbled  in  dust,  I  would  bemoan  ; 
And  while  past  guilt  I  thus  deplore,  ] 
I  would  repeat  my  sins  no  more  ; 
But  by  a  life  of  zeal  and  love, 
My  faith  and  my  repentance  prove  ; 
So  shall  thy  grace  my  sins  forgive, 
Jesus  shall  smile,  and  I  shall  live. 


b2 


20 

XV.  The  Assistance  and  Influence  of  tlie 
blessed  Spirit. 

'TIS  not  in  my  weak  power,  alone, 
To  melt  this  stubborn  heart  of  stone ; 
My  soul  to  change,  my  life  to  mend, 
Or  seek  to  Christ  that  generous  friend. 
'Tis  God's  own  Spirit  from  above 
Fixes  our  faith,  inflames  our  love, 
And  makes  a  life  divine  begin, 
In  wretch'd  souls  long  dead  in  sin. 

That  most  important  gift  of  heaven. 
To  those  that  ask  and  seek  is  given  ; 
Then  be  it  my  immediate  care, 
With  importunity  of  prayer, 
To  seek  it  in  a  Saviour's  name, 
"Who  will  not  turn  my  hope  to  shame. 

God  from  on  high  his  grace  shall  pour, 
My  soul  shall  flourish  more  and  more  ; 
Press  on  with  speed  from  grace  to  grace, 
Till  glory  end,  and  crown  the  race. 

Since  then,  the  Father  and  the  Son, 
And  Holy  Spirit,  Three  in  One, 
Glorious  beyond  all  speech  and  thought, 
Have  jointly  my  salvation  wrought: 
I'll  join  them  in  my  songs  of  praise, 
Now,  and  through  heaven's  eternal  days. 


21 


XVI.  The  means  of  Grace  -which  God  has 
appointed. 

WHAT  kind  provision  God  has  made, 
That  we  may  safe  to  heaven  be  led  ! 
For  this  the  prophets  preach'd  and  wrote, 
For  this  the  bless'd  apostles  taught ; 
Taught  as  that  Spirit  did  inspire, 
Who  came  from  heaven  in  tongues  of  fire  ; 
And  gave  them  languages  unknown, 
That  distant  lands  his  grace  might  own  ; 
His  hands  have  kept  the  sacred  page 
Secure  from  men  and  devil's  rage. 

For  this,  he  churches  did  ordain, 
His  truth  and  worship  to  maintain  : 
For  this,  he  pastors  did  provide, 
In  those  assemblies  to  preside  ; 
And  from  the  round  of  common  days, 
Mark'd  out  our  Sabbath  to  his  praise : 
Delightful  day  when  Christains  meet ! 
To  hear,  and  pray,  and  sing,  how  sweet  I 

For  this  he  gives,  in  solemn  ways, 
Appointed  tokens  of  his  grace  ; 
In  sacramental  pledges  there, 
His  soldiers  to  their  General  swear  ! 
Baptiz'd  into  one  common  Lord, 
They  joyful  meet  around  his  board  : 
Honour  the  orders  of  his  house, 
And  speak  their  love,  and  seal  their  vows, 
B3 


22 


XVII.     Of  the  Design  and  Obligation  of 
Baptism. 

IN  baptism  wash'd  we  all  must  be, 
In  honour  of  the  sacred  Three  ; 
To  show  how  we  are  wash'd  from  sin, 
In  Jesus'  blood,  and  born  again 
By  grace  divine,  and  thus  are  made 
Members  of  Christ,  our  common  head. 

The  Father  form'd  the  glorious  scheme, 
And  we  adopted  are,  by  him. 
The  Son,  great  Prophet,  Priest,  and  King, 
Did  news  of  this  redemption  bring ; 
He  by  his  death  our  life  procur'd, 
And  now  bestows  it  as  our  Lord. 
The  Holy  Spirit  witness  bore 
To  the  bless'd  gospel  heretofore ; 
And  taught  the  men  he  purified, 
Faithful  and  patient  to  abide. 

Into  these  names  am  I  baptized  ? 
Then  be  the  honour  justly  priz'd ; 
Nor  let  the  sacred  bond  be  broke, 
Nor  be  my  covenant-God  forsook  ; 
Oh  !  may  I  keep  my  garments  clean, 
And  never  more  return  to  sin  ! 
One  body  now  all  Christians  are  ; 
Oh  !  may  they  in  one  spirit  share, 
And  cherish  that  endearing  love, 
in  which  the  saints  are  bless'd  above. 


23 


vvill      Of  the  Mure  and  Design  of  the 

XV  J     Lord's  Supper. 

THE  memory  of  Christ's  death  is  sweet, 

KrSrrK^iw, 

Obedient  to  his  word  divine. 

While  they  the  bread  and  cup  receive, 
Hf  on  their  Saviour  they  believe,) 
CThey  feast,  as  on  his  flesh  and  blood, 
Cordial  divine,  and  ^avenly  food  1 
Their  covenant  thus  with  God  ienew, 
Ind  love  to  every  Christian  show. 

Well  may  their  souls  rejoice  and  thrive; 
n <  mav  the  blessed  hour  arrive 
Wh™  ripe  ^  knowledge  and  in  grace, 
I  at  that  board  shall  find  a  place'. 
Ard  now,  what  there  his  people  do, 
T  would  at  humble  distance  view  j 
WoaM  look  to  Christ  with  grateful  heart, 
And  in  their  pleasure  take  my 'part  ; 
Resolv'd  while  such  a  sight  I  see, 
To  live  to  him  who  died  for  me, 


B4 


24 
XIX.     Of  the  Nature  and  Office  of  Angels. 

MY  soul,  the  heavenly  world  survey, 
The  regions  of  eternal  day 
There  Jesus  reigns,  and  round  his  seat, 
Millions  of  holy  angels  meet. 

Those  morning  stars,  how  bright  they  shine  ! 
How  sweetly  all  their  voices  join 
To  praise  their  Maker  !  watchful  still 
To  mark  the  signals  of  his  will  : 
While    with   their   out-stretch'd   wings  they 

stand, 
To  fly  at  his  divine  command. 

All  happy  as  they  are,  and  great, 
Yet  scorn  they  not  on  men  to  wait ; 
And  even  children  in  their  arms 
They  gently  bear,  secure  from  harms. 
Oh  !  may  I,  with  such  humble  zeal, 
My  heavenly  Father's  word  fulfil, 
That  I,  when  time  has  run  its  race, 
May  with  blest  angels  find  a  place, 
Borne  on  their  friendly  wings  on  high 
To  joys  like  theirs,  which  never  die. 


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XX.     Of  the  Fall  and  State  of  the  Devils, 

WELL  may  I  tremble,  when  I  read 
That  sin  did  heaven  itself  invade  : 
Curs'd  pride,  with  subtilty  unknown, 
Perverted  angels  near  God's  throne ; 
They  sinn'd  against  his  holy  name, 
And  hateful  devils  they  became  ; 
But  wrath  divine  pursu'd  them  soon, 
And  flaming  vengeance  hurl'd  them  down. 

Now  in  the  pangs  of  fierce  despair, 
Prisoners  at  large,  they  range  in  air  ; 
Walk  through  the  earth,  unheard,  unseen, 
And  lay  their  snares  for  thoughtless  men  ; 
Tempt  us  to  sin  against  our  God, 
And  draw  us  to  hell's  downward  road. 

But  God  can  all  their  power  restrain, 
My  Saviour  holds  them  in  his  chain, 
Till  at  his  bar  they  shall  appear, 
And  meet  their  final  sentence  there. 


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XXI.  On  Death. 

LORD,  I  confess  thy  sentence  jusi, 
That  sinful  man  should  turn  to  dust, 
That  I  ere  long  should  yield  my  breath. 
The  captive  of  all  conquering  Death. 

Soon  will  the  awful  hour  appear, 
"When  I  must  quit  my  dwelling  here. 
These  active  limbs  to  worms  a  prey, 
In  the  cold  grave  must  waste  away ; 
Nor  shall  I  share  in  all  that's  done 
In  this  wide  world,  beneath  the  sun. 

To  distant  climes,  and  seats  unknown, 
My  naked  spirit  must  be  gone ; 
To  God  its  Maker  must  return, 
And  ever  joy,  or  ever  mourn. 

No  room  for  penitence  and  prayer ; 
No  further  preparations  there 
Can  e'er  be  made  ;  the  thought  is  vain  ; 
My  state  unaltered  must  remain. 
Awake,  my  soul,  without  delay, 
That  if  God  summon  thee  this  day, 
Thou  cheerful  at  his  call  mayst  rise, 
And  spring  to  life  beyond  the  skies. 


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XXII.    On  the  Resurrection  of  the  Bead, 

WHAT  awful  ruins  death  has  made  ! 
How  low  the  wise  and  great  are  laid ! 
Alike  the  saints  and  sinners  die; 
Mouldering  alike  in  dust  they  he. 
But  there's  a  day  shall  change  the  scene : 
How  awful  to  the  sons  of  men ! 

When  the  archangel's  trump  shall  sound, 
And  shake  the  air  and  cleave  the  ground, 
Jusus  enthron'd  in  light  appears, 
Circled  with  angels  bright  as  stars : 
«<  Rise,  ye  that  sleep,"  the  Lord  shall  say, 
And  all  the  earth  and  all  the  sea, 
Yield  up  the  nations  of  the  dead, 
For  ages  in  their  bowels  hid ; 
Then  bone  to  kindred  bone  shall  cleave, 
And  cloth'd  with  flesh  new  life  receive ; 
Each  spirit  knows  its  proper  mate  : 
They  rise  an  army  vast  and  great. 

But  oh !  what  different  marks  they  bear, 
Of  transport  some,  and  some  of  fear; 
When  marshall'd  in  the  Judge's  sight, 
These  to  the  left,  those  to  the  right, 
That  they  may  that  last  sentence  hear, 
Which  shall  their  endless  state  declare  : 
My  soul  in  deep  attention  stay, 
And  learn  the  event  of  such  a  day, 


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XXIII.  Of  Judgment  and  Eternity^  Heaven 
and  Hell. 

WHEN  Christ  to  judge  the  world  descends 
Thus  shall  he  say  to  all  his  friends  : 
"  Come,  blessed  souls,  that  kingdom  share, 
"  My  father  did  for  you  prepare, 
"  Ere  earth  was  founded  ;  come  and  reign, 
"  Where  endless  life  and  joy  remain." 
Then  to  the  wicked : — "  Go,  ye  curs'd, 
'« Ye  have  no  portion  with  the  just ; 
"  To  those  eternal  burnings  go, 
"  Whose  pangs  the  rebel  angels  know." 
He  speaks,  and  straight  the  shining  bands, 
With  fiery  thunders  in  their  hands, 
Drive  them  away;  hell's  lake  receives 
The  wretched  on  its  flaming  waves; 
Justice  divine  the  gates  shall  bar, 
And  for  a  seal  affix  despair : 

While  Jesus,  rising  from  his  throne, 
Leads  his  triumphant  army  on, 
To  enter  their  divine  abode, 
In  the  fair  city  of  their  God. 
There  everlasting  pleasures  grow, 
Full  rivers  of  salvation  flow, 
And  all  their  happiness  appears 
increasing  with  eternal  years. 


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XXIV.  Conclusion.- JL  practical  Refection 
*A  on  the  Whole. 

AND  now,  mv  heart,  with  reverend  awe, 
•rom  hence  Wne  own  instructs  draw. 

.or  me  the  fruits  of  glory  grow; 

)r  hell  awaits  my  fall  below- 
Eternal  God '.what  shall  I  do 

Ay  nature  trembles  at  the  view ! 
£v  deathless  soul  herself  surveys, 
With  ioy,  and  terror,  and  amaze. 
Dh  be  thy  shield  around  me  spread, 
Fo  euardthe  spirit  thou  hast  made  I 
3avf  me  from  snares  of  earth  and  hell, 
Wfrom  myself  preserve  me  well? 
Let  all  the  heavenly  truths  I  know, 
Should  aggravate  my  guilt  and  wo  I 
ThV  power  in  weakness  is  display'd, 
When  babes  by  thee  are  conquerors  made  ; 
When  Satan  shall  be  vanquished  iound, 
.And  heaven  with  endless  praise  resound. 

THE  END, 


